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Are you one of the many people who have decided to begin a career as a certified nurse aide? CNA careers are extremely popular today, and one of the best things about choosing this career is that there is a high demand for these professionals in nearly every corner of the United States. But just what makes this career so popular? This is what we are going to explore here.
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Length of Training
Perhaps the biggest reason that makes nurse aide careers so popular today is the length of CNA training programs. In most cases, you can train for a CNA career in just a couple of months. For people who do not have a lot of time to devote to an intense training program, training to become a CNA is the perfect choice!
Furthermore, if you are not sure of whether or not a healthcare career will suit you, working as a nurse aide can help you in your decision. As you gain practical work experience in the medical field, you will get an inside peek of everything that is involved in such careers as LPNs, RNS, technicians, and physicians.
Excellent Starting Wages
Another reason that contributes to the popularity of CNA careers is that these careers offer excellent starting wages. In fact, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall national average salary for CNAs in 2019 – the year these statistics were last released by the U.S. BLS – was $29,640 per year. This is equal to $14.25 per hour for full-time employees.
In addition to excellent starting wages, many nurse aides also enjoy great benefit packages, which often include such perks as health insurance, dental insurance, paid vacations, and annual pay raises. Of course, whether or not you will receive these benefits depends on your work status and individual employer.
Increasing Need for CNAs
An increasing need for trained CNAs is yet another reason why these careers have become so popular today. There is a high demand for CNAs all across the country, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the overall employment for CNAs will grow at a rate of 8 percent from 2019 to 2029.
This increasing demand is due to a variety of reasons; however, one of the main reasons is the country's growing elderly population. As the Baby Boomer generation enters their senior years, the need for medical care is increasing dramatically. With this need, the demand for qualified healthcare workers such as CNAs has been growing at a rapid rate as well.
Job Flexibility
As a certified nurse aide, you can enjoy flexibility in both work schedules and work environments. Not only can you choose to work either part- or full-time, but you can also opt to work day, afternoon, evening or night shifts. This is great if you have other obligations such as school, a job, or a family.
As stated previously, in addition to offering flexible work schedules, CNA careers offer flexible work environments as well. Nurse aides can be found working in a large variety of medical facilities including nursing homes, adult daycare centers, geriatric living facilities, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other long-term care facilities.
Conclusion
There are many things that make CNA careers popular today, including short training programs, great wages, flexible work schedules, and increasing demand.
